Matthew 27:1-31--The Trial and Torture of Jesus

Matthew 27:1-31 English Standard Version (ESV)
LISTEN:  https://www.biblegateway.com/audio/mclean/esv/Matt.27.1-Matt.27.31
Jesus Delivered to Pilate
27 When morning came, all the chief priests and the elders of the people took counsel against Jesus to put him to death. 2 And they bound him and led him away and delivered him over to Pilate the governor.

Judas Hangs Himself
3 Then when Judas, his betrayer, saw that Jesus was condemned, he changed his mind and brought back the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and the elders, 4 saying, “I have sinned by betraying innocent blood.” They said, “What is that to us? See to it yourself.” 5 And throwing down the pieces of silver into the temple, he departed, and he went and hanged himself. 6 But the chief priests, taking the pieces of silver, said, “It is not lawful to put them into the treasury, since it is blood money.” 7 So they took counsel and bought with them the potter's field as a burial place for strangers. 8 Therefore that field has been called the Field of Blood to this day. 9 Then was fulfilled what had been spoken by the prophet Jeremiah, saying, “And they took the thirty pieces of silver, the price of him on whom a price had been set by some of the sons of Israel, 10 and they gave them for the potter's field, as the Lord directed me.”

Jesus Before Pilate
11 Now Jesus stood before the governor, and the governor asked him, “Are you the King of the Jews?” Jesus said, “You have said so.” 12 But when he was accused by the chief priests and elders, he gave no answer. 13 Then Pilate said to him, “Do you not hear how many things they testify against you?” 14 But he gave him no answer, not even to a single charge, so that the governor was greatly amazed.

The Crowd Chooses Barabbas
15 Now at the feast the governor was accustomed to release for the crowd any one prisoner whom they wanted. 16 And they had then a notorious prisoner called Barabbas. 17 So when they had gathered, Pilate said to them, “Whom do you want me to release for you: Barabbas, or Jesus who is called Christ?” 18 For he knew that it was out of envy that they had delivered him up. 19 Besides, while he was sitting on the judgment seat, his wife sent word to him, “Have nothing to do with that righteous man, for I have suffered much because of him today in a dream.” 20 Now the chief priests and the elders persuaded the crowd to ask for Barabbas and destroy Jesus. 21 The governor again said to them, “Which of the two do you want me to release for you?” And they said, “Barabbas.” 22 Pilate said to them, “Then what shall I do with Jesus who is called Christ?” They all said, “Let him be crucified!” 23 And he said, “Why? What evil has he done?” But they shouted all the more, “Let him be crucified!”

Pilate Delivers Jesus to Be Crucified
24 So when Pilate saw that he was gaining nothing, but rather that a riot was beginning, he took water and washed his hands before the crowd, saying, “I am innocent of this man's blood; see to it yourselves.” 25 And all the people answered, “His blood be on us and on our children!” 26 Then he released for them Barabbas, and having scourged Jesus, delivered him to be crucified.

Jesus Is Mocked
27 Then the soldiers of the governor took Jesus into the governor's headquarters, and they gathered the whole battalion before him. 28 And they stripped him and put a scarlet robe on him, 29 and twisting together a crown of thorns, they put it on his head and put a reed in his right hand. And kneeling before him, they mocked him, saying, “Hail, King of the Jews!” 30 And they spit on him and took the reed and struck him on the head. 31 And when they had mocked him, they stripped him of the robe and put his own clothes on him and led him away to crucify him.

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There is much to say here, and I'd recommend that if you have never seen it to watch The Passion of the Christ--maybe even stream it at home this week during Holy Week as today as I write this blog, it is Palm Sunday for 2020, though many of us may have lost track of the days given the current situation where we've been ordered to stay at home due to the outbreak of the COVID-19 virus.  Even though we may not be able to come together to celebrate The Passion of the Christ in person this week in our local congregations, we can still remember this time together.

We start the passage with a short statement saying that the chief priests and elders of the Jewish people handed Jesus over to Pilate for trial--much more has gone on in the evening but we don't read about it here, but Jesus has been up all night having jurisdictional disputes over His trial until finally Pilate sees tha the Jews may riot if he doesn't do something, so he agrees to hear the case.

I'm not sure what Judas expected to happen when he turned Jesus over to the chief priests and elders for 30 pieces of silver, but Judas now sees the full weight and consequences of what he has done.  Instead of crying out of forgiveness and repenting, he decides instead that he no longer deserves to live and that there's no hope of forgiveness for him and that the only answer left is for him to hang himself (though we'll read later that the rope will break and he will be dashed to pieces when he hits the ground).  It was not at all a pleasant death and he chooses to hang himself on a tree because that's was the fate of accursed people in the Old Covenant--dragged outside of town, stoned to death and then hung on a tree for those that walked by as a message to say "Don't live like this person or you'll also face the same fate as this person."  Judas did the only thing that he knew to do--try to return the money and then pay for his sin with his own life--unfortunately our own deaths cannot pay for our own sin debt, and this was yet another lie Satan had whispered in Judas's ear--that it would all be better if he would just end his life.  I believe the Bible is pretty clear that Judas was not saved.  While he had remorse, he had no real repentance, he was only trying to soothe his own soul and make himself feel better about himself.  While all this is going on, Jesus is taking the punishment that Judas deserved and facing the death on a tree that Judas deserved and paying for the sin, but also taking the guilt and shame that Judas deserved for all those who would call upon and believe on His name.  "Those who call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved."  Even this action as sad as it was was prophesied and the 30 pieces of silver were used as God foretold to buy the potter's field where strangers and foreigners who had no place to be buried could be laid to rest.  We still practice this today in most communities and have a"Potter's Field" where the poor people and "John and Jane Does" can be buried by the state.  The practice started back here.

​We now return to the trial before Pilate--here is the question that we have been leading to for the entire book of Matthew.  Pilate asks based off of the charges brought by the chief priests and elders, "Are you the King of the Jews?"  Jesus gives a very non-answer answer of, "So you say," meaning that He has never called Himself that to this point and He's not exactly denying it, but He is saying that they are putting words in His mouth that have not been His own words.  Jesus still gives no real answer when Pilate asks him if He realizes what's going on and the number of witnesses and the fact that He could be put to death.  We'll see in other gospels that Jesus does give and answer to say "My kingdom is not of this world" and said that if it was His servants would have fought to keep Him from being arrested--He was not trying to fight cause an insurrection and overthrow the political powers of Rome or the Sanhedrin (Jewish ruling council) for that matter.

Pilate finds no reason to condemn Him and literally "washes his hands" of the matter.  He then tries a political trick to see if he can get rid of this case and make the people happy.  There was a tradition at the time of Passover to release one prisoner.  Pilate gave the people the choice of releasing Jesus and the chief priests and elders convinced the people to instead ask for Barabbas--a legitimate terrorist, serial killer, and insurrectionist.  Pilate couldn't believe what he was hearing and asked what then he should do with Jesus and they chief priests and elders once again worked the crowd up to shout "Crucify Him!"  (The same crowd that on Palm Sunday had been shouting Hosanna!  Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!"). Pilate could do nothing to quiet the crowd and a riot would mean the end of his political career.  If he didn't do something he might be the one to be executed by Rome.

Pilate does not believe Jesus is guilty and says he is innocent of this many's blood, and the Jews say, "His blood is on our hands and the hands of our children."  Oh how true these words are that the Jews have been seen as the ones that are responsible for the death of Christ for years--though that's not really the true story.  They were but instruments in the hand of God to accomplish His divine plan.  Each of them responsible for his or her own choices yet in some way beyond our comprehension, God used and superintended those decisions to bring about His plan for His glory and the redemption and salvation of His people.

So much is wrapped up in the statement that Jesus was scourged and handed over to be crucified.  We are saved a lot of the bloody, gory details, but I again encourage you to see The Passion of the Christ if you ever want to know what is wrapped up in this single verse.  There was much brutality--both physical and verbal, and the soldiers showed no mercy.  Jesus was beaten within an inch of His life--in fact, any normal man probably would have died.  But no man could take Jesus' life from Him--it would not end for Him until He said "It is finished."

The King of Kings and Lord of Lords, the King of Heaven and the King of Jews now mocked as He is dressed in royal robes with a crown of thorns and a makeshift staff put in His hand and they would blindfold Him and beat Him and ask Him to prophecy to tell them which one if Him struck Him.  In all of this Jesus was silent like a lamb lead to the slaughter--The Lamb of God that would take away the sin of the world.  Once they had their fun they put His clothes back on Him--the very garments they will soon cast lots for and divide among themselves as that's all He had for possessions when He was arrested, and would compel Him to bear his crossbeam to Calvary where He would be crucified.

Next time we'll talk more of the crucifixion, death and burial of Jesus.  Until then, meditate on the price that was paid for your sin and my sin.  This is what each of us deserved, but the ultimate pain has not come for Jesus yet--that will come when Jesus on the cross takes on the weight of all our sin and shame and feels cut off from the very presence of God and cries out, "My God, My God, why have you forsaken Me?"

"For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord."  Have you fully trusted in Christ to save you and change your identity and accepted this gift of eternal life?  If not, you can do it today.  Contact me if you'd like to know how.